Grow Board and Method

ABSTRACT

An illustrative embodiment of a grow board may include an outer member that may be engaged with an inner member such that a grow media may be positioned therebetween, secured, and/or tightened by the engagement between the inner and outer members. The outer member may have one or more slots formed therein to allow a plant to grow from the grow media through the slots, wherein the root of the plant may be positioned adjacent the inner member. The inner member may be configured with risers along the periphery and interior to provide a sufficient gap between stacked grow boards to allow for improved penetration of light and air into the seeded and stacked grow boards to aid in seed germination.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This non-provisional utility patent application claims the filingpriority from provisional U.S. Pat. App. Nos. 62/017,574 filed on Jun.26, 2014; 62/018,452 filed on Jun. 27, 2014; and 62/063,158 filed onOct. 13, 2014, all of which are incorporated by reference herein intheir entireties.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

No federal funds were used to develop or create the invention disclosedand described in the patent application.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTINGCOMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to agriculture, and morespecifically to hydroponic and/or aeroponic methods and apparatuses.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments and together with thedescription, serve to explain the principles of the methods and systems.

FIG. 1A provides an exterior perspective view of the illustrativeembodiment of a grow board engaged with a rail.

FIG. 1B provides an interior perspective view of the embodiment of agrow board shown in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2A provides a detailed view of a portion of the outer surface of anillustrative embodiment of an outer member that may be used with theillustrative embodiment of a grow board.

FIG. 2B provides a detailed view of another portion of the outer surfaceof the embodiment of an outer member shown in FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2C provides a detailed view of a portion of the interior surface ofthe illustrative embodiment of an outer member shown in FIGS. 2A & 2B.

FIG. 2D provides a detailed view of another portion of the interiorsurface of the embodiment of an outer member shown in FIGS. 2A-2C.

FIG. 3A provides a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of a growboard shown in FIGS. 1A & 1B.

FIG. 3B provides a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of a growboard shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 3A.

FIG. 3C provides a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of a growboard shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 3A, and 3B.

FIG. 4A provides a perspective view of the interior surface of anillustrative embodiment of an inner member that may be used with anillustrative embodiment of a grow board.

FIG. 4B provides a detailed view of a portion of the interior surface ofan illustrative embodiment of an inner member shown in FIG. 4A.

FIG. 4C provides a perspective view of the outer surface of anillustrative embodiment of an inner member shown in FIGS. 4A & 4B.

FIG. 4D provides a detailed view of a portion of the outer surface of anillustrative embodiment of the inner member shown in FIGS. 4A-4C.

FIG. 5 provides a perspective view of a plurality of grow boardsaccording to an illustrative embodiment in a stacked configuration withrespect to one another.

FIG. 6A provides a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of agrow board with growth media positioned between the inner and outermembers.

FIG. 6B provides a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of agrow board with upper portions of a plurality of plants protrudingthrough the slots.

FIG. 6C provides a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of agrow board with lower portions of a plurality of plants protrudingthrough the openings.

FIG. 7A provides an exterior perspective view of another illustrativeembodiment of a grow board of FIGS. 1A, 2A, 2C and 2D without the rail.

FIG. 7B provides a front view of the outer surface of an outer memberthat may be used with the illustrative embodiment of a grow board of 7A.

FIG. 7C provides a profile view of the outer surface of the embodimentof an outer member shown in FIGS. 7A-7B.

FIG. 7D provides a detailed side view of the illustrative embodiment ofan outer member shown in FIGS. 7A-7C.

FIG. 8A provides an interior perspective view of another illustrativeembodiment of a grow board inner member of FIGS. 4A-4D.

FIG. 8B provides a front view of the inner surface of an inner memberthat may be used with the illustrative embodiment of a grow board ofFIG. 1A or 7A.

FIG. 8BB provides a detailed view of one portion of the inner surface ofthe inner member of FIGS. 8A-8D.

FIG. 8BBB provides a detailed view of another portion of the innersurface of the inner member of FIGS. 8A-8D.

FIG. 8C provides an end view of the embodiment of an inner member shownin FIGS. 8A-8D.

FIG. 8CC provides a detailed end view of a portion of the embodiment ofan inner member shown in FIGS. 8A-8D.

FIG. 8D provides a side view of the illustrative embodiment of an outermember shown in FIGS. 8A-8C.

FIG. 9A provides a front view of the outer surface of anotherillustrative embodiment of an outer member.

FIG. 9B provides a side view of the embodiment of an outer member shownin FIG. 9A.

FIG. 9C provides an end view of the embodiment of an outer member shownin FIGS. 9A and 9B.

FIG. 10A provides a side view of another illustrative embodiment of agrow board.

FIG. 10B provides another side view of the illustrative embodiment of agrow board shown in FIG. 10A.

FIG. 11 provides a side view of another illustrative embodiment of agrow board.

FIG. 12A provides side view of another illustrative embodiment of a growboard.

FIG. 12B provides a side and back view of the illustrative embodiment ofa grow board shown in FIG. 12A.

FIG. 13A provides a front view of the outer surface of anotherembodiment of an grow board.

FIG. 13B provides a side view of the embodiment of the grow board shownin FIG. 13A.

FIG. 13C provides an end view of the embodiment of a grow board shown inFIGS. 13A and 13B.

FIG. 14A provides a front view of the outer surface of anotherembodiment of a grow board, wherein two grow boards are positionedadjacent one another on a rail.

FIG. 14B provides a side view of the embodiment a grow board shown inFIG. 14A.

FIG. 14C provides an end view of the embodiment of a grow board shown inFIGS. 14A and 14B.

FIG. 14D provides a detailed view of a top edge of the periphery of theembodiment of a grow board shown in FIGS. 14A-14C.

FIG. 14E provides a detailed view of a portion of the outer surfaceadjacent a top edge of the periphery of the embodiment of a grow boardshown in FIGS. 14A-14D.

FIG. 15A provides a detailed view of a top edge of the periphery of theembodiment of a grow board shown in FIGS. 14A-14E at an intersectionbetween the right side of one grow board and the left side of theadjacent grow board.

FIG. 15B provides a detailed view of a top edge of the periphery of theembodiment of a grow board shown in FIGS. 14A-14E at an intersectionbetween the right side of one grow board and the left side of theadjacent grow board wherein the right side of one grow board istransparent.

FIG. 15C provides a detailed view of a bottom edge of the periphery ofthe embodiment of a grow board shown in FIGS. 14A-14E at an intersectionbetween the right side of one grow board and the left side of theadjacent grow board wherein the right side of one grow board istransparent.

FIG. 15D provides a detailed view of a bottom edge of the periphery ofthe embodiment of a grow board shown in FIGS. 14A-14E at the left sideand on an outer surface thereof.

FIG. 15E provides a detailed view of a bottom edge of the periphery ofthe embodiment of a grow board shown in FIGS. 14A-14E at the right sideand one an outer surface thereof.

FIG. 15F provides a detailed view of a bottom edge of the periphery ofthe embodiment of a grow board shown in FIGS. 14A-14E at the right sideand one an inner surface thereof.

FIG. 15G provides a detailed view of a bottom edge of the periphery ofthe embodiment of a grow board shown in FIGS. 14A-14E at an intersectionbetween the right side of one grow board and the left side of theadjacent grow board wherein the left side of one grow board istransparent.

FIG. 15H provides a cross-sectional view of the periphery of theembodiment of a grow board shown in FIGS. 14A-14E at an intersectionbetween the right side of one grow board and the left side of theadjacent grow board.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION-Table of Elements Element Description ElementNumber Grow board  10 Rail  12 Connector  14 Grow media  16 Periphery 18 Interior area  19 Outer member  20 Slot  22 Peripheral wall  24Engagement channel  24a Indent  25 Lip  26 Divot  28 Inner member  30Frame  31 Leg  32 Channel  33 Opening  34 Protrusion  36 Riser  38 InnerRiser  38a Tip  38b Connection point 114 Outer member 120 Support 121Main trough 121a Side trough 121b Shelf 122 Slot 123 Peripheral wall 124Indent 125 Filler 125a Arm 126 Chamber 127 Backing member 128 Recess128a Inner member 130 Beam 132 Top portion 133 Bottom portion 134 Void136 Right side 140 Right flange 142 Ridge 142a Left side 150 Left flange152 Lip 152a

Before the present methods and systems are disclosed and described, itis to be understood that the methods and systems are not limited tospecific methods, specific components, or to particular implementations.It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for thepurpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended tobe limiting.

As used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms“a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearlydictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” oneparticular value, and/or to “about” another particular value. When sucha range is expressed, another embodiment includes—from the oneparticular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, whenvalues are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent“about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms anotherembodiment. It will be further understood that the endpoints of each ofthe ranges are significant both in relation to the other endpoint, andindependently of the other endpoint.

“Optional” or “optionally” means that the subsequently described eventor circumstance may or may not occur, and that the description includesinstances where said event or circumstance occurs and instances where itdoes not.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the word“comprise” and variations of the word, such as “comprising” and“comprises,” means “including but not limited to,” and is not intendedto exclude, for example, other components, integers or steps.“Exemplary” means “an example of” and is not intended to convey anindication of a preferred or ideal embodiment. “Such as” is not used ina restrictive sense, but for explanatory purposes.

Disclosed are components that can be used to perform the disclosedmethods and systems. These and other components are disclosed herein,and it is understood that when combinations, subsets, interactions,groups, etc. of these components are disclosed that while specificreference of each various individual and collective combinations andpermutation of these may not be explicitly disclosed, each isspecifically contemplated and described herein, for all methods andsystems. This applies to all aspects of this application including, butnot limited to, steps in disclosed methods. Thus, if there are a varietyof additional steps that can be performed it is understood that each ofthese additional steps can be performed with any specific embodiment orcombination of embodiments of the disclosed methods.

The present methods and systems may be understood more readily byreference to the following detailed description of preferred embodimentsand the examples included therein and to the Figures and their previousand following description.

A first illustrative embodiment of a grow board 10 is shown inperspective in FIG. 1, wherein a portion of the grow board 10 is engagedwith a rail 12. It is anticipated that grow boards 10 disclosed andclaimed herein may be used in agriculture. For example, variousillustrative embodiments disclosed herein may be incorporated withvarious hydroponic and/or aeroponic agriculture systems, including butnot limited to the various apparatuses and methods disclosed in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/914,243, which is incorporated byreference herein in its entirety. Accordingly, a rail 12 or othersupport structure may be engaged with a portion of the grow board 10 tofacilitate placement of multiple grow boards 10 adjacent one anotherand/or a framework for supporting the grow board(s) 10.

One or more rails 12 (or any other support structure that is suitablefor the particular application of the grow board 10) may be configuredsuch that a plurality of grow boards 10 may be placed adjacent oneanother in a generally horizontal row, and multiple rows of grow boards10 may be placed adjacent one another in a generally vertical manner. Inone aspect, the grow board 10 may be configured such that a portion ofthe weight of the grow board 10 is distributed on the rail 12. The growboard 10 may be configured to accommodate a rail 12 at any end of thegrow board 10. In the illustrative embodiment shown in FIG. 1A, it iscontemplated that the rail 12 may be engaged optimally with the growboard 10 at the top edge of the grow board 10, such that the grow board10 may hang down from the rail 12, and such that another portion of thegrow board 10 positioned below the rail 12 may rest upon anotherstructure (e.g., a portion of the support structure) such that the growboard 10 may be angled with respect to the vertical dimension.Alternatively, the grow board 10 may be configured such that a rail 12may be engaged optimally with the grow board 10 at a bottom edge of thegrow board 10, such that another portion of the grow board 10 positionedabove the rail 12 may rest upon another structure (e.g., a portion ofthe support structure) such that the grow board 10 may be angled withrespect to the vertical dimension.

The spacing between rails 12 and/or other components of the supportstructure used to support the grow boards 10 may be fixed such that anygrow board 10 having specific dimensions and/or a specific configurationon a portion of the grow board 10 may be engaged with that supportstructure. In this manner, aspects of the interior area 19 configurationof a grow board 10 may be infinitely varied for different conditions(e.g., the plant species that is grown on the grow board 10, theenvironment in which the grow board 10 is employed, etc.) and aspects ofthe periphery 18 of the grow board 10 may be standardized. Accordingly,different grow boards 10 having nearly any interior area 19configuration may be used with a single support structure without needto change aspects of the support structure as long as various aspects ofthe periphery 18 of the grow board 10 remain constant. Providing thistype of modularity for a support structure and the types of grow boards10 that may be used with a single support structure may greatly reducethe costs (e.g., less labor, equipment, downtime, footprint required forsupport structure, etc.) associated with growing different plant specieson a single support structure. The modularity provided by the presentgrow board 10 and method will be more apparent in light of the variousillustrative embodiments of grow boards 10 disclosed herein. In anaspect it is contemplated that the grow board 10 may be generallyrectangular in shape. Further, the grow board 10 may be 32 inches wideand 48 inches high, without limitation unless so indicated in thefollowing claims.

It is contemplated that for the first illustrative embodiment of a growboard 10, the portion of a plant (which plant is grown using the growboard 10) that would normally constitute the upper portion of the plant(i.e., the portion of a plant other than the roots) may protrude fromthe grow media 16 out from the various slots 22 shown in FIG. 1A, whichslots 22 may be formed in an outer member 20. Such a situation isdepicted in FIG. 6B. Similarly, it is contemplated that for the firstillustrative embodiment the portion of a plant that would normallyconstitute the lower portion of the plant (i.e., the root portion) mayprotrude out from the surface shown in FIG. 1B (and/or outward from growmedia 16 positioned adjacent thereto), which surface may constitute aninner surface and be positioned adjacent to a nutrient supply for theplants on the grow board 10 in many applications thereof. Such asituation is depicted in FIG. 6C, wherein a plurality of roots are shownextending away from the grow media 16 in a direction that is alsogenerally away from the outer member 20. Other orientations and/orconfigurations of plants, upper and/or lower portions thereof, and/ordelivery of nutrient supply may be used with the grow board 10 withoutlimitation. Generally, as used herein, the “inner surface” of a growboard 10 or component thereof as shown in FIGS. 1-8D may constitute thesurface generally facing the root portion of a plant and the term “outersurface” of a grow board 10 or component thereof may constitute thesurface generally facing the portion of the plant other than the rootsthereof. In many applications the inner surface of a grow board 10 orcomponent thereof may be oriented toward a nutrient supply and an outersurface of a grow board 10 or component thereof may be oriented awayfrom a nutrient supply.

Generally, the first illustrative embodiment of a grow board 10 may beconfigured such that a grow media 16 may be positioned between an outermember 20 and an inner member 30. One embodiment of such a grow media 16is shown in FIG. 6A. The optimal grow media 16 may vary at least fromone plant to the next. Accordingly, any grow media 16 currently known orlater developed may be used with the grow board 10 without limitation,including but not limited to synthetic foam, burlap, cotton, wood chips(which may be engaged with a netting, such as a polymer net) polymerfabrics, polymers, plastics, cloth, composite materials, rock wool,perlite, other natural materials, other synthetic materials, and/orcombinations thereof.

In the first illustrative embodiment of a grow board 10, the outermember 20 may be comprised of a synthetic material that reflects a largeportion of light to increase the efficiency of light absorbed by plantsgrown using the grow board 10 (such as white colored, food-grade ABSplastic). However, the scope of the present disclosure is in no waylimited by the materials used to construct any portion of the grow board10, including but not limited to the outer member 20 and inner member30, unless so indicated in the following claims.

A detailed view of a portion of the outer surface of the firstillustrative embodiment of an outer member 20 is shown in FIG. 2A. It iscontemplated that the upper portion of the plant may be positionedadjacent this surface of the outer member 20, whereas the lower portionof the plant may be positioned adjacent the inner surface of the outermember 20, which is shown clearly at least in FIGS. 2C and 2D. As shown,the outer surface of the outer member 20 may be configured such that itis generally smooth and planar, wherein a plurality of slots 22 may beformed in the outer member 20 and pass from the outer surface to theinner surface thereof. As shown in FIG. 6B, in some applications it iscontemplated that plants may be positioned in one or more slots 22during use of the grow board 10. In the first illustrative embodiment,it is contemplated that the slots 22 may be from 0.1 to 6.5 inches fromtop to bottom (i.e., the distance between the two linear sides), andbetween 0.5 and 32 inches long, without limitation unless so indicatedin the following claims. Additionally, it is contemplated that the firstillustrative embodiment of a grow board 10 may be generally rectangularin shape. In one embodiment, the grow board 10 may be 32 inches wide and48 inches high, without limitation unless so indicated in the followingclaims. The optimal number, spacing, dimensions, shape, and/orconfiguration of the slots 22 may vary from one application of the growboard 10 to the next, and those considerations are therefore in no waylimiting to the scope of the present disclosure unless so indicated inthe following claims. Furthermore, the optimal number, spacing,dimensions, and/or shape of the grow board(s) 10 may vary from oneapplication of the grow board 10 to the next, and those considerationsare therefore in no way limiting to the scope of the present disclosureunless so indicated in the following claims.

The outer member 20 may be configured with a peripheral wall 24, whichmay constitute an element of the periphery 18. The peripheral wall 24may extend inward away from the outer surface toward the inner member30. The peripheral wall 24 may be configured to provide support,rigidity, structural integrity, and/or any other consideration neededand/or beneficial for the specific application of the grow board 10. Inan aspect, the peripheral wall 24 (and/or other portions of the outermember 30) may be formed with various angles, surfaces, corners, etc. toprovide the desired rigidity, load-bearing capacity, structuralintegrity, and/or any other consideration needed and/or beneficial forthe particular application of the grow board 10 The specificconfiguration of the peripheral wall 24 and/or aspects thereof(thickness, length, etc.) may be standardized in accordance with thestandardization of the periphery 18 of the grow board 10 as previouslydescribed above to facilitate a modular aspect of the grow board 10.

One or more peripheral walls 24 may be configured with a indent 25,which indent 25 may be configured to provide an engagement area betweenthe outer member 20 (and/or grow board 10) and a rail 12 (and/or othersupport structure). In an aspect, the indent 25 may extend along thelength of a peripheral wall 24 on one full side of the grow board 10 andmay facilitate an aspect of the modularity of the grow board 10. Theindent 25 may be configured with sufficient depth such that a portion ofthe rail 12 or other support structure may adequately engage the growboard 10 via the indent 25 such that certain unwanted movements (e.g.,downward and/or lateral movement of the grow board 10 in a directionother than that parallel to the length of the rail 12) of the grow board10 are prevented and/or mitigated via engagement between the grow board10 and the rail 12 or other support structure via the indent 25. One ormore peripheral walls 24 may be configured with an engagement channel 24a, which engagement channel 24 may be configured to provide anengagement area between a portion of the inner member 30 and the outermember 20, which is shown in detail for the illustrative embodiment of agrow board 10 in FIG. 3C and described in further detail below.

Referring now to FIGS. 2C & 2D, a lip 26 may extend from each slot 22from the outer surface of the outer member 20 to the inner surfacethereof. The lip 26 may extend around the entire periphery of each slot22 or just a portion thereof. The optimal length by which a lip 26extends from the slot 22 may depend at least upon the plant for whichthe outer member 20 is designed. It is contemplated that for manyapplications this length may be preferably between 0.1 and 2.1 inches,and more preferably between 0.25 and 1.5 inches, without limitationunless so indicated in the following claims. Generally, the lips 26 mayprovide support, rigidity, structural integrity, spacing, and/or anyother consideration needed and/or beneficial for the specificapplication of the grow board 10.

An inner member 30 may include a frame 31 around the periphery or aportion of the periphery of the inner member 30. FIGS. 4A and 4C provideperspective views of the inner and outer surfaces, respectively, of afirst illustrative embodiment of an inner member 30. Generally, theinner member 30 may include one or more legs 32 engaged with one anotherand/or the frame 31 such that the legs 32, and/or legs 32 and frame 31may form a type of grid. The legs 32 and/or legs 32 and frame 31 maycooperate to define one or more openings 34. It is contemplated that inan aspect of a grow board 10, the inner member 30 may generally serve toprovide support, rigidity, structural integrity, and/or any otherconsideration needed and/or beneficial for the particular application ofthe grow board 10. The inner member 30 may be constructed of anysuitable material, including but not limited to plastics (such asfood-grade ABS plastic), polymers, metals and their alloys, naturalmaterials, other synthetic materials, and/or combinations thereof.However, the scope of the present disclosure is in no way limited by thematerials used to construct the inner member 30.

In the first illustrative embodiment of an inner member 30, the frame 31may be rectangular in shape and the openings 34 may be configured asnormal hexagons. However, the scope of the present disclosure is not solimited, and extends to any shape, dimensions, and/or configurations ofa frame 31 and/or opening(s) 34 without limitation unless so indicatedin the following claims. It is contemplated that for most applicationsit may be advantageous for the frame 31 of the inner member 30 to have asize and/or shape that is similar or nearly identical (or correlative onsome other fashion), but again the scope of the present disclosure isnot so limited.

Referring now to FIG. 4D, the inner surface of the legs 32 and/or frame31 may be configured with a channel 33 therein to reduce weight, providesupport, rigidity, structural integrity, spacing, and/or any otherconsideration needed and/or beneficial for the specific application ofthe grow board 10. One illustrative embodiment of such a channel 33 isshown in FIG. 4D, which provides a detailed view of a portion of theinner surface of the first illustrative embodiment of the inner member30.

A detailed view of the inner surface of a first illustrative embodimentof an inner member 30 is shown in FIG. 4B, wherein the inner member 30may be formed with one or more protrusions 36 extending from the innersurface thereof. In the first illustrative embodiment it is contemplatedthat the protrusions 36 may extend toward inner surface of the outermember 20 when the grow board 10 is assembled, as shown at least inFIGS. 3B and 3C, which provide cross-sectional views of the firstillustrative embodiment of a grow board 10. As shown, the outer member20 and inner member 30 may be configured such that grow media 16 may besecured therebetween. In the first illustrative embodiment, a portion ofthe frame 31 of the inner member 30 may engage the engagement channel 24a of the outer member 20 such that grow media 16 positioned between theouter and inner members 20, 30 may be positioned and/or securedtherebetween. Each protrusion 36 on the inner member 30 may beconfigured such that when the outer member 20 and inner member 30 areassembled, a distal end of each protrusion 36 moves past the distal endof one or more lips 26, thereby pressing grow media toward the outersurface of the outer member 20 and into the void spaces between the lips26. Such a configuration may provide a plurality of independentlytaught, secured, and/or tightened areas of grow media 16 at each opening34, which may be hexagonal in shape.

Any shape, dimensions, and/or configuration of openings 34 may beemployed in the inner member 30 to facilitate a plurality ofindependently taught, secured, and/or tightened areas of grow media 16,and the present disclosure extends to any method and/or structuredesigned to do so. For the first illustrative embodiment, a protrusion36 may be positioned at or adjacent to each vertex of the grid formed bythe legs 32 as shown clearly in FIG. 4B. However, in other embodimentsof an inner member 30, the protrusions 36 may be differently positionedand/or configured to engage one or more surfaces of an outer member 20to facilitate a plurality of independently taught, secured, and/ortightened areas of grow media 16 without limitation unless so indicatedin the following claims.

One or more connectors 14 may be employed to ensure that the outer andinner members 20, 30 remain engaged with and/or do not move relative toone another. The connectors 14 may be integrally formed with the outermember 20 and/or inner member 30, and may be configured such that theinner member 30 snaps into the outer member 20 when appropriate force isapplied in an appropriate direction. The scope of the present disclosureis in no way limited by the structure and/or method to engage and/orsecure the outer member 20 and the inner member 30 to one another unlessso indicated in the following claims.

The peripheral wall 24 of the outer member 20 may be flared outward suchthat one or more grow boards 10 may be stacked flat with respect to oneanother as shown in FIG. 5, wherein the grow boards 10 are shown in anested configuration with respect to adjacent grow boards 10. Thisconfiguration may be especially useful during germination, wherein aplurality of grow boards 10 may be used to germinate a plurality ofseeds while simultaneously requiring a relatively small amount of floorspace. It is contemplated that the length of the peripheral wall 24and/or thickness of the inner member 30 may be configured such that thespacing between adjacent grow boards 10 during germination providesadequate space such that plants on one grow board 10 do not interferewith those on an adjacent grow board 10, and such that plants on theinterior area 19 of each grow board 10 receive adequate light and air.The optimal distance between adjacent grow boards 10 during germinationwill vary at least depending on the plants grow on the grow board 10,and is therefore in no way limiting to the scope of the presentdisclosure unless so indicated in the following claims.

It is contemplated that for germination and/or early stage plant growth,a plurality of grow boards 10 may be stacked horizontally atop oneanother in a manner similar to that shown in FIG. 5 after a plurality ofseeds have been deposited on the grow media 16 and the grow media 16 isadequately positioned between the outer and inner members 20, 30. Onemethod of depositing seeds on grow media 16 that may be used with a growboard 10 may comprise applying an adhesive to the grow media 16 (whichadhesive may be comprised of any suitable material, such as syntheticmaterials, natural syrups, and/or combinations thereof) and thendropping seeds onto the grow media 16 having adhesive thereon. Thismethod may be especially useful for grow media 16 comprised of woodchips.

After the grow boards 10 have been so arranged, a predetermined amountof water and/or nutrient supply may be introduced to the grow boards 10.This may be accomplished by simply placing the water and/or nutrientsupply on the top grow board 10 and allowing gravity to cause the waterand/or nutrient supply to move downward to lower grow boards 10. After adesired amount of water and/or nutrient supply has been introduced tothe grow boards 10, a sealing member (not shown) may be placed over theentire stack of grow boards 10. The sealing member may be configured asa plastic sheet such that it is impermeable to air, water, and nutrientsupply, but such that it is transparent. However, the scope of thepresent disclosure is not so limited, and any material with suitableporosity, flexibility, weight, and/or other characteristics may be usedwithout limitation unless so indicated in the following claims.

Another illustrative embodiment of a grow board 10 that may comprise anouter member 20 (which is shown in FIGS. 7A-7D with some illustrativedimensions thereof shown), and an inner member 30 (which is shown inFIGS. 7C and 8A-8D with some illustrative dimensions thereof shown) maybe configured to function in a manner similar to the first illustrativeembodiment of a grow board 10 as previously described and shown in FIGS.1-6 hereof during all phases of plant growth, including but not limitedto germination.

In the illustrative embodiment of a grow board 10 shown in FIGS. 7A-8D,the inner member 30 may comprise one or more risers 38 protruding in aninward direction from the inner surface of the inner member 30, whichare shown clearly in FIGS. 8A-8D. One or more risers 38 may bepositioned at various positions around the frame 31. In an aspect, theframe 31 may comprise four risers 38, but it is contemplated that theoptimal number, configuration, and/or spacing of the risers 38 will varyat least based upon the size and/or configuration of the grow board 10.Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited by thenumber, configuration, spacing, and/or other aspect of the risers 38unless so indicated in the following claims. Additionally oralternatively, one or more inner risers 38 a may be positioned at one ormore legs 32 of the inner member 30. In an aspect, an inner riser 38 amay be positioned at or adjacent to the center of the inner member 30and proximate a vertex or adjacent to a vertex of the grid formed by thelegs 32. However, in other aspects of an inner member 30, the innerriser 38 a may be differently positioned, spaced, and/or configuredwithout limitation unless so indicated in the following claims.

Generally, the distance that a riser 38 and/or inner riser 38 a mayextend from the inner surface of the inner member 30 and may be sized toprovide a gap between multiple stacked grow boards 10 sufficient toallow adequate penetration and/or circulation of light and/or air tosupport successful seed germination when multiple grow boards 10 arestacked horizontally as shown in FIG. 5. A riser 38 and/or inner riser38 a may be formed with a tip 38 b at the distal end thereof having arelatively smaller cross-sectional area than the other portion of theriser 38 and/or inner riser 38 a. In an aspect, the risers 38 and/orinner risers 38 a may be hollow or open on the interior thereof and maybe configured to align with a corresponding divot 28 formed in the outersurface of an outer member 30. It is contemplated that at least the tip38 b or a portion thereof may seat within a corresponding divot 28 of anadjacent outer member 20. Accordingly, the risers 38 and/or inner risers38 a may serve to provide adequate spacing between adjacent grow boards10 when the grow boards 10 are horizontally stacked as shown in FIG. 5(for example, during germination). If the outer members 20 are formedwith corresponding divots 28, the risers 38 and/or inner risers 38 a maycooperate with corresponding divots 28 to mitigate unwanted movement ofadjacent grow boards 10 with respect to one another when the grow boards10 are horizontally stacked.

Any shape, dimensions, and/or configuration of risers 38 and innerrisers 38 a may be employed in the inner member 30 to facilitateimproved light penetration, circulation and/or air flow, and/or anyother benefit and the present disclosure extends to any method and/orstructure designed to do so unless so limited in the following claims.

In one aspect, the outer surface of the outer member 20 a grow board 10may be generally planar. Such a configuration of a grow board 10 may beespecially useful as an apparatus with a controlled environment forshipping and/or display of the plants grown in the grow board 10. Thatis, certain grow boards 10 may serve as a grow board 10 at a farm, as ashipping support during transportation of one or more plants from a farmto a location having a point of sale, and as a support for one or moreplants at a point of sale. It is contemplated that a grow board 10 maybe formed of as a recyclable plastic container.

In such an aspect, no harvest of the plants may be required at the farm.Instead, the customer and/or end consumer may perform the harvesting atthe point of sale, wherein specific point-of-sale packaging may beavailable to the customer and/or end consumer. It is contemplated thatthe grow board 10 may be configured with a chamber adjacent to and/orencompassing a root portion of the plants (e.g., the portion of the growboard 10 adjacent the inner member 30) that may be climate controlled(e.g., humidity, temperature, light, nutrient supply, etc.). That is,this aspect may allow a consumer to harvest and purchase a living plantfrom a climate controlled point of sale. Such a grow board 10 wouldallow delivery of product with intact roots. The roots of the plants inthe grow board 10 may be given a specific portion of nutrient supply,but cooled to suspend growth. This aspect may also allow the product toavoid required cooling space at stores and/or other point of salelocations. Additionally, the entire grow board 10 may be provided withdisplay packaging and sold and/or distributed as a unit.

It is contemplated that during transportation and/or during display, aheat sink (e.g., dry ice, chilled liquid, etc.) and/or a heat exchangermay be employed to maintain the desired temperature for the root portionof the plants. Any plants that are not harvested and/or purchased by endconsumers toward the end of the life of any plants on the grow board 10may be harvested by a distributor and sold at a lower price.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, the grow boards 10 may beplaced in a retail grocery store. Again, the grow boards 10 may beconfigured such that the root zone of the plants are positioned in acontrolled environment. Customers of the grocery store may select adesired plant on the grow board 10 and harvest that specific plantmanually, after which the customer may place the harvested plant inspecific packaging provided adjacent the grow board 10. If any plantsremain in the grow board 10 after and/or close to the time at which theplants are close to end of life, a produce manager may harvest theremaining plants and sell them at a reduced price. In such anembodiment, one grow board 10 may be used to germinate, grow, transport,display, and ultimately harvest and sell at least one plant.

If the plants on the grow board 10 are harvested at a farm and latertransported to a point of sale, embodiments of a grow board 10 whereinthe exterior surface of the outer member 20 is generally planar mayincrease the efficiency of harvesting the plants. Using a grow board 10so configured, a sickle bar and/or other linear harvesting apparatuswith a width approximately equal to that of the grow board 10 may beused to traverse the length of grow board 10, thereby harvesting all theplants on the grow board 10 in a single operation. However, othermethods of harvesting may be used with various embodiments of the growboard 10 without limitation unless so indicated in the following claims,and the location of harvesting in no way limits the scope of the presentdisclosure. Additionally, any apparatus and/or methods suitable for theparticular application may be used to harvest plants grow from the growboard 10 without limitation unless so indicated in the following claims,and the optimal apparatus will vary at least depending on the type ofplant grown.

Alternative Embodiments of a Grow Board

Another illustrative embodiment of a grow board 10 is shown in FIGS.9A-9C, wherein the outer surface thereof is shown in FIG. 9A. Across-sectional view is provided in FIG. 9B and the grow board 10 isshown from the top in FIG. 9C. Two cross-sectional views of a grow board10 that may have some corresponding aspects are provided in FIGS. 10A &10B. Additional cross-sectional view of other grow boards 10 that mayhave corresponding aspects are shown in FIGS. 11 & 12A, respectively.FIG. 12B provides a front view of a portion of the grow board 10 shownin FIG. 12A. It is contemplated that these embodiments of a grow board10 may be used in agriculture and in a modular manner as previouslydescribed for other embodiments of a grow board 10 without limitationunless so indicated in the following claims.

It is contemplated that for the embodiments of a grow board 10 shown inFIGS. 9A-12B, the portion of a plant (which plant is grown using thegrow board 10) that would normally constitute the upper portion of theplant (i.e., the portion of a plant other than the roots) may protrudefrom the grow media 16 out from one or more slots 123 formed in a shelf122. Similarly, it is contemplated that the portion of a plant thatwould normally constitute the lower portion of the plant (i.e., the rootportion) may be positioned within and/or may protrude out from (in agenerally downward direction) a chamber 127 (and/or outward from growmedia 16 positioned adjacent thereto). It is further contemplated thatthese embodiments of a grow board 10 may be especially useful when usedin conjunction with a nutrient delivery system that provides nutrientsupply adjacent the root portion of the plants. Other orientationsand/or configurations of plants, upper and/or lower portions thereof,and/or delivery of nutrient supply may be used with the grow board 10without limitation. Generally, as used herein, the term “outer surface”of a grow board 10 or component thereof as shown in FIGS. 9A-12B mayconstitute the surface generally facing the direction from which a shelf122 protrudes from the grow board and the “inner surface” of a growboard 10 or component thereof may constitute the surface opposite theinner surface. In many applications the inner surface of a grow board 10or component thereof may be oriented toward a nutrient supply and anouter surface of a grow board 10 or component thereof may be orientedaway from a nutrient supply.

It is contemplated that the embodiments of a grow board 10 shown inFIGS. 9A-12B may be configured with a periphery 18 that is at leastsimilar enough to the periphery 18 of the embodiments of a grow board 10shown in FIGS. 1-8D such that all of these various grow boards 10 may beengaged with a single rail 12 and/or support structure. As shown inFIGS. 9A-9C, the peripheral wall 124 of the outer member 120 in thisembodiment may be configured in a manner that is similar or evenidentical to the peripheral wall 24 of the other embodiments of a growboard 10 disclosed herein and vice versa. Referring specifically to FIG.9B, an indent 125 may be formed in the peripheral wall 124 as previouslydescribed for other embodiments of a grow board 10 to provide anengagement area between the outer member 120 (and/or grow board 10) anda rail 12 (and/or other support structure). Again, it is contemplatedthat the various grow boards 10 disclosed herein may be interchangeableon a single rail 12 and/or support structure.

Generally, in an aspect of a grow board 10 such as those shown in FIGS.9A-12B, the grow board 10 may be configured such that a grow media 16may be positioned in a chamber 127. The chamber 127 may be formed viacooperation between an outer member 120 and an inner member 130, or thechamber 127 may be formed via one or more backing members 128 engagedwith an outer member 120 at various positions of the outer member 120 onthe inner surface thereof The optimal grow media 16 may vary from oneplant to the next. Accordingly, any grow media 16 currently known orlater developed may be used with the grow board 10 without limitation,including but not limited to burlap, cotton, wood chips (which may beengaged with a netting, such as a polymer net) polymer fabrics,synthetic foam, polymers, plastics, cloth, composite materials, rockwool, perlite, other natural materials, other synthetic materials,and/or combinations thereof

For the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9A-9C, a backing member 128 may beengaged with a portion of the inner surface of one or more shelves 122.The backing member 128 and outer member 120 may be integrally formedwith one another or separately formed and later engaged with one anotherat one or more connection points 114. In one aspect the connection point114 may be configured as a type of living hinge if the material used forthe outer member 120 and backing member 128 is suitable for such aconfiguration. In another embodiment mechanical hinges pivotally engagea portion of the outer member 120 with the backing member 128. Thebacking member 128 may be formed with one or more recesses 128 atherein, which recesses 128 a may be semi-circular in shape. However,the scope of the present disclosure is not so limited and extends togrow boards 10 having backing members 128 with any number, shape,dimensioned, and/or configuration of recesses 128 a therein unless solimited by the following claims. It is contemplated that the optimalnumber, spacing, dimensions, and/or configuration of recesses 128 a inthe backing member 128 will vary from one application of the grow board10 to the next and depend at least on the type of grow media 16positioned in each chamber 127. For example, when smaller-sized growmedia 16 is used, it is contemplated that the recesses 128 a maygenerally be smaller, and vice versa. For one embodiment now shownherein, it is contemplated that backing member 128 may generally beconfigured as a comb, wherein the recesses 128 a may be generallyrectangular in shape and very closely spaced with respect to one anotherwith flexible and/or semi-flexible elongate members positioned betweenadjacent recesses 128 a.

It is contemplated that the upper portion of the plant may be positionedadjacent the outer surface of the shelf 122, whereas the lower portionof the plant may be positioned adjacent the inner surface of the shelf122, such that at least some of the root portion of the plant may bepositioned within the chamber 127. The shelf 122 may be engaged with asupport 121 (which may constitute the underside of the shelf 122), toprovide support, rigidity, structural integrity, and/or any otherconsideration needed and/or beneficial for the specific application ofthe grow board 10. In an aspect, the support 121 and shelf 122 may begenerally linear and angled with respect to one another by an angle lessthan 90 degrees. Additionally, an arm 126 may be engaged with anadjacent shelf 122 and support 121 (as shown in FIGS. 10A-11), adjacentshelves 122, and/or adjacent supports 121 to provide support, rigidity,structural integrity, and/or any other consideration needed and/orbeneficial for the specific application of the grow board 10. In anaspect of the grow board 10 shown in FIGS. 12A & 12B, the shelf 122 maybe generally linear but the support 121 may be generally curved.Accordingly, the specific shape, dimensions, orientations, and/orconfigurations of the shelf 122 and/or support 121 alone or relative toone another in no way limits the scope of the present disclosure.

In an aspect of the grow boards 10 shown in FIGS. 10A-12B, the shelf 122and support 121 may cooperate with an inner member 130 to form a chamber127, into which grow media 16 may be positioned. The chamber 127 may begenerally triangular in cross-sectional shape, whereas in other aspectsthe chamber 127 may be generally shaped as a sector (i.e., an arcconnecting two radii). However, the specific shape, dimensions, and/orconfiguration of the chamber 127 in no way limits the scope of thepresent disclosure, and the optimal configuration of the chamber 127will vary from one application of the grow board 10 to the next and bedependent at least on the plant for which the grow board 10 is designed.

The outer member 120 and inner member 130 may be integrally formed withone another or separately formed and later engaged with one another atone or more connection points 114. In an aspect the connection point 114may be configured as a type of living hinge if the material used for theouter and inner members 120, 130 is suitable for such a configuration.In another embodiment mechanical hinges pivotally engage a portion ofthe outer member 120 with the inner member 130.

In an aspect, the inner member 130 in the illustrative embodiments maybe comprised of one or more beams 132, as most clearly shown in FIGS.11-12B. Each beam 132 may be comprised of a top portion 133 and a bottomportion 134, which may be generally linear but offset with respect toone another. The bottom portion 134 may include one or more voids 136formed therein, as shown in FIG. 12B, the left-hand side of whichprovides a front view of an illustrative embodiment of an inner member30. Although the voids 136 shown in FIG. 12B may be generallysemi-circular in shape, the scope of the present disclosure is not solimited and extends to grow boards 10 having inner members 130 with anynumber, shape, dimensioned, and/or configuration of voids 136 thereinunless so limited by the following claims. It is contemplated that theoptimal number, spacing, dimensions, and/or configuration of voids 136in the inner member 130 will vary from one application of the grow board10 to the next and depend at least on the type of grow media 16positioned in each chamber 127. For example, when smaller-sized growmedia 16 is used, it is contemplated that the voids 136 may generally besmaller, and vice versa. For one embodiment now shown herein, it iscontemplated that the bottom portion 134 of the inner member 130 maygenerally be configured as a comb, wherein the voids 136 may begenerally rectangular in shape and very closely spaced with respect toone another with flexible and/or semi-flexible elongate members of thebottom portion 134 positioned between adjacent voids 136.

As shown, the outer surface of the shelf 122 may be configured such thatit is generally smooth and planar, wherein one or more slots 123 may beformed in the shelf 122 and pass from the outer surface to the innersurface thereof. In some applications it is contemplated that plants maybe positioned in one or more slots 123 during use of the grow board 10.In an aspect it is contemplated that the grow board 10 may be generallyrectangular in shape. Further, the grow board 10 may be 32 inches wideand 48 inches high, without limitation unless so indicated in thefollowing claims. The optimal number, spacing, dimensions, shape, and/orconfiguration of the slots 123, shelves 122, chambers 127, backingmembers 128, recesses 128 a, beams 132, top portions 133, bottomportions 134, voids 136 and/or other components of the grow board 10 mayvary from one application of the grow board 10 to the next, and thoseconsiderations are therefore in no way limiting to the scope of thepresent disclosure unless so indicated in the following claims.Furthermore, the optimal number, spacing, dimensions, and/or shape ofthe grow board(s) 10 may vary from one application of the grow board 10to the next, and those considerations are therefore in no way limitingto the scope of the present disclosure.

It is contemplated that for some embodiments of a grow board 10, theinner member 130 may generally serve to provide support, rigidity,structural integrity, and/or any other consideration needed and/orbeneficial for the particular application of the grow board 10. Theinner member 130 may be constructed of any suitable material, includingbut not limited to plastics (such as food-grade ABS plastic), polymers(such as polyethylene), metals and their alloys, natural materials,other synthetic materials, and/or combinations thereof. However, thescope of the present disclosure is in no way limited by the materialsused to construct the inner member 130.

In one aspect of a grow board 10, the outer member 120 may be comprisedof a synthetic material that reflects a large portion of light toincrease the efficiency of light absorbed by plants grown using the growboard 10 (such as white colored, food-grade ABS plastic). However, thescope of the present disclosure is in no way limited by the materialsused to construct any portion of the grow board 10, including but notlimited to the outer member 120 and inner member 130, unless soindicated in the following claims.

It is contemplated that for germination and/or early stage plant growth,a plurality of grow boards 10 may be stacked horizontally atop oneanother after a plurality of seeds have been deposited on the grow media16 and the grow media 16 is adequately positioned in a respectivechamber 127. One method of depositing seeds on grow media 16 that may beused with the illustrative embodiment of a grow board 10 may compriseapplying an adhesive to the grow media 16 (which adhesive may becomprised of any suitable material, such as synthetic materials, naturalsyrups, and/or combinations thereof) and then dropping seeds onto thegrow media 16 having adhesive thereon. This method may be especiallyuseful for grow media 16 comprised of wood chips. A reorientation of thegrow board 10 may cause a certain amount of seeds to dislodge from thegrow media 16. The grow media 16 may then be stamped and/or otherwiseconfigured into strips and inserted into respective chambers 127(manually, robotically, or via a combination thereof) either before orafter germination and/or early stage plant growth has occurred.

After the grow boards 10 have been so arranged, a predetermined amountof water and/or nutrient supply may be introduced to the grow boards 10.This may be accomplished by simply placing the water and/or nutrientsupply on the top grow board 10 and allowing gravity to cause the waterand/or nutrient supply to move downward to lower grow boards 10. After adesired amount of water and/or nutrient supply has been introduced tothe grow boards 10, a sealing member (not shown) may be placed over theentire stack of grow boards 10. The sealing member may be configured asa plastic sheet, but the scope of the present disclosure is not solimited, and any material with suitable porosity, flexibility, weight,and/or other characteristics may be used without limitation unless soindicated in the following claims.

Because the exterior surface of the shelves 122 may be generally planar,this and/or similar configurations of grow boards 10 may be especiallyuseful as an apparatus with a controlled environment for shipping and/ordisplay of the plants grow in the grow board 10. That is, certain growboards 10 may serve as a grow board 10 at a farm, as a shipping supportduring transportation of one or more plants from a farm to a locationhaving a point of sale, and as a support for one or more plants at apoint of sale. It is contemplated that in one illustrative embodimentsuch a grow board 10 may be formed of as a recyclable plastic container.

In such an aspect, no harvest of the plants may be required at the farm.Instead, the customer and/or end consumer may perform the harvesting atthe point of sale, wherein specific point-of-sale packaging may beavailable to the customer and/or end consumer. It is contemplated thatthe grow board 10 may be configured with a chamber adjacent to and/orencompassing a root portion of the plants (e.g., the portion of the growboard 10 adjacent the inner member 30) that may be climate controlled(e.g., humidity, temperature, light, nutrient supply, etc.). That is,this aspect may allow a consumer to harvest and purchase a living plantfrom a climate controlled point of sale. Such a grow board 10 wouldallow delivery of product with intact roots. The roots of the plants inthe grow board 10 may be given a specific portion of nutrient supply,but cooled to suspend growth. This aspect may also allow the product toavoid required cooling space at stores and/or other point of salelocations. Additionally, the entire grow board 10 may be provided withdisplay packaging and sold and/or distributed as a unit.

It is contemplated that during transportation and/or during display, aheat sink (e.g., dry ice, chilled liquid, etc.) and/or a heat exchangermay be employed to maintain the desired temperature for the root portionof the plants. Any plants that are not harvested and/or purchased by endconsumers toward the end of the life of any plants on the grow board 10may be harvested by a distributor and sold at a lower price.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, the grow boards 10 may beplaced in a retail grocery store. Again, the grow boards 10 may beconfigured such that the root zone of the plants are positioned in acontrolled environment. Customers of the grocery store may select adesired plant on the grow board 10 and harvest that specific plantmanually, after which the customer may place the harvested plant inspecific packaging provided adjacent the grow board 10. If any plantsremain in the grow board 10 after and/or close to the time at which theplants are close to end of life, a produce manager may harvest theremaining plants and sell them at a reduced price. In such anembodiment, one grow board 10 may be used to germinate, grow, transport,display, and ultimately harvest and sell at least one plant.

If the plants on the grow board 10 are harvested at a farm and latertransported to a point of sale, embodiments of a grow board 10 whereinthe exterior surface of the shelf 122 is generally planar may increasethe efficiency of harvesting the plants. Using a grow board 10 soconfigured, a sickle bar and/or other linear harvesting apparatus with awidth approximately equal to that of the shelf 122 may be used totraverse the width of grow board 10, thereby harvesting all the plantson a shelf 122 in a single operation. However, other methods ofharvesting may be used with various embodiments of the grow board 10without limitation unless so indicated in the following claims, and thelocation of harvesting in no way limits the scope of the presentdisclosure. Additionally, any apparatus and/or methods suitable for theparticular application may be used to harvest plants grow from the growboard 10 without limitation unless so indicated in the following claims,and the optimal apparatus will vary at least depending on the type ofplant grown.

It is contemplated that for certain plants, the type of grow board 10shown in FIGS. 9A-12B may be especially advantageous due to theorientation of the slots 123, which may allow a plant to grow in a morevertical direction when compared with other grow boards 10.Additionally, it is contemplated that this type of grow board 10 mayease removal of residual plant material, grow media 16, and/or othermaterial after harvest in preparation of reusing the grow board 10. Inan aspect, a pressurized fluid may be applied to the grow board 10 in adirection from the outer surface to the inward surface with such flowcharacteristics that residual plant material, grow media 16, and/orother material positioned on the outer surface, inner surface, and/orwithin the chamber 27 may be expelled from the grow board 10, whichexpulsion may be accomplished via flexing and/or bending of one or morerecesses 28 a and/or areas of the bottom portion 134. However, thespecific orientation of the plants and/or method for cleaning a growboard 10 in no way limit the scope of the present disclosure unless soindicated in the following claims.

Another illustrative embodiment of a grow board 10 is shown in FIGS.13A-13C, wherein FIG. 13A provides a front view of the outer surface 10of the outer member 120, FIG. 13B provides a side view of the grow board10, and FIG. 13C provides an end view thereof. It is contemplated thatthis embodiment of a grow board 10 may be used in agriculture and in amodular manner as previously described for other embodiments of a growboard 10 without limitation unless so indicated in the following claims.It is contemplated that the embodiments of a grow board 10 shown inFIGS. 13A-13C may be configured with a periphery 18 that is at leastsimilar enough to the periphery 18 of other embodiments of a grow board10 disclosed herein such that all of these various grow boards 10 may beengaged with a single rail 12 and/or support structure. Generally, asused herein, the “inner surface” of a grow board 10 or component thereofas shown in FIGS. 13A-13C may constitute the surface generally facingthe root portion of a plant and the term “outer surface” of a grow board10 or component thereof may constitute the surface generally facing theportion of the plant other than the roots thereof In many applicationsthe inner surface of a grow board 10 or component thereof may beoriented toward a nutrient supply and an outer surface of a grow board10 or component thereof may be oriented away from a nutrient supply.

The peripheral wall 124 of the outer member 120 in the grow board 10shown in FIGS. 13A-13C may be configured in a manner that is similar oreven identical to the peripheral wall 24 of the other embodiments of agrow board 10 disclosed herein and vice versa. Referring specifically toFIG. 13B, an indent 125 may be formed in the peripheral wall 124 aspreviously described for other embodiments of a grow board 10 to providean engagement area between the outer member 120 (and/or grow board 10)and a rail 12 (and/or other support structure). Again, it iscontemplated that the various grow boards 10 disclosed herein may beinterchangeable on a single rail 12 and/or support structure.

The grow board 10 may be configured with one or more slots 123 formed inthe grow board 10 passing through the outer surface thereof to the innersurface thereof A lip (not shown) may extend from a slot 123 around theperiphery of the slot 123 or a portion thereof in either a directiontoward the inner surface or in a direction toward the outer surface.However, it is contemplated that for certain applications of the growboard 10, a lip on a portion of the slot 123 may not be required due toan interference fit between the slot 123 and the grow media 16positioned in the slot 123. In an aspect, relatively dry grow media 16may be inserted into a slot 123 after which water and/or nutrient supplymay be applied to the grow media 16 such that it expands by an amountadequate to secure the grow media 16 and/or any plant protrudingtherefrom within the slot 123. In another application, a net cup may beinserted into a slot 123 to adequately retain grow media 16.

The configuration of the outer surface of the grow board 10 shown inFIGS. 13A-13C may afford this grow board 10 identical and/or similaradvantages related to germination, early plant grow, a controlledenvironment on a portion of the plant, harvesting, shipping, generaltransportation, retail display and/or general display, and/or otherbenefits and/or advantages previously described for other embodiments ofa grow board 10 without limitation unless so indicated in the followingclaims.

Another illustrative embodiment of a grow board 10 is shown in FIGS.14A-15H, wherein FIG. 14A provides a perspective view of two such growboards 10 positioned adjacent one another and engaged with a single rail12. It is contemplated that this embodiment of a grow board 10 may beused in agriculture and in a modular manner as previously described forother embodiments of a grow board 10 without limitation unless soindicated in the following claims. It is contemplated that theembodiments of a grow board 10 shown in FIGS. 14A-15H may be configuredwith a periphery 18 that is at least similar enough to the periphery 18of other embodiments of a grow board 10 disclosed herein (and viceversa) such that all of these various grow boards 10 may be engaged witha single rail 12 and/or support structure. The peripheral wall 124 ofthe outer member 120 in the grow board 10 shown in FIGS. 14A-15H may beconfigured in a manner that is similar or even identical to theperipheral wall 24 of the other embodiments of a grow board 10 disclosedherein and vice versa. Referring specifically to FIG. 14B, an indent 125may be formed in the peripheral wall 124 as previously described forother embodiments of a grow board 10 to provide an engagement areabetween the outer member 120 (and/or grow board 10) and a rail 12(and/or other support structure). Again, it is contemplated that thevarious grow boards 10 disclosed herein may be interchangeable on asingle rail 12 and/or support structure.

It is contemplated that for the embodiments of a grow board 10 shown inFIGS. 14A-15H, the portion of a plant (which plant is grown using thegrow board 10) that would normally constitute the upper portion of theplant (i.e., the portion of a plant other than the roots) may protrudefrom the grow media 16 out from one or more slots 123 formed in a shelf122. A portion of the grow media 16 associated with each plant may bepositioned within a slot 123. A lip (not shown) may extend from a slot123 around the periphery of the slot 123 or a portion thereof in eithera direction toward the inner surface or in a direction toward the outersurface. However, it is contemplated that for certain applications ofthe grow board 10, a lip on a portion of the slot 123 may not berequired due to an interference fit between the slot 123 and the growmedia 16 positioned in the slot 123. In an aspect, relatively dry growmedia 16 may be inserted into a slot 123 after which water and/ornutrient supply may be applied to the grow media 16 such that it expandsby an amount adequate to secure the grow media 16 and/or any plantprotruding therefrom within the slot 123. In another application, a netcup may be inserted into a slot 123 to adequately retain grow media 16.The optimal grow media 16 may vary from one plant to the next.Accordingly, any grow media 16 currently known or later developed may beused with the grow board 10 without limitation, including but notlimited to burlap, cotton, wood chips (which may be engaged with anetting, such as a polymer net) polymer fabrics, synthetic foam,polymers, plastics, cloth, composite materials, rock wool, perlite,other natural materials, other synthetic materials, and/or combinationsthereof

It is further contemplated that the portion of a plant that wouldnormally constitute the lower portion of the plant (i.e., the rootportion) may be positioned below a shelf 122 and may extend in agenerally downward direction and/or outward from grow media 16positioned adjacent thereto. It is further contemplated that theseembodiments of a grow board 10 may be especially useful when used inconjunction with a nutrient delivery system that provides nutrientsupply adjacent the root portion of the plants. Other orientationsand/or configurations of plants, upper and/or lower portions thereof,and/or delivery of nutrient supply may be used with the grow board 10without limitation. Generally, as used herein, the term “outer surface”of a grow board 10 or component thereof may constitute the surfacegenerally facing the direction from which a shelf 122 protrudes from thegrow board and the “inner surface” of a grow board 10 or componentthereof may constitute the surface opposite the inner surface. In manyapplications the inner surface of a grow board 10 or component thereofmay be oriented toward a nutrient supply and an outer surface of a growboard 10 or component thereof may be oriented away from a nutrientsupply.

Referring specifically to FIG. 14D, a filler 125 a may be engaged withthe grow board 10 within the indent 125 for engagement with a portion ofa rail 12 and/or other support structure. It is contemplated that afiller 125 a may mitigate and/or prevent water and/or nutrient supplypassing from the inner surface of the grow board 10 to the outer surfacethereof (from the right to the left in the orientation shown in FIG.14D) along the top edge of the grow board 10. Any grow board 10 mayemploy a filler 125 a adjacent the indent 125 without limitation unlessso indicated in the following claims.

The outer surface of the grow board 10 shown in FIGS. 14A-15H maycomprise a plurality of shelves 122 that generally may be arranged incolumns and rows, wherein a shelf 122 may include one or more slots 123formed therein. Rows may include two or three shelves 122 and columnsmay include five or six shelves 122. The slots 123 may have any shapeand/or configuration without limitation unless so indicated in thefollowing claims. The shelf 122 may be engaged with one or more supports121 (which may constitute the underside of the shelf 122), to providesupport, rigidity, structural integrity, and/or any other considerationneeded and/or beneficial for the specific application of the grow board10. In an aspect, one support 121 and a corresponding shelf 122 may begenerally linear and angled with respect to one another by an angle lessthan 90 degrees, while a second support 121 and the same correspondingshelf 122 may be generally linear and angled with respect to one anotherby an angle greater than 90 degrees. As shown, a plurality of supports121 having various orientations, shapes, and/or configurations may beassociated with one or more shelves 122.

One or more main troughs 121 a may extend from an area adjacent a topedge of the periphery 18 of a grow board to an area adjacent a bottomedge of the periphery 18 thereof. The main trough 121 a may bepositioned between adjacent rows of shelves 122, or along the side of aterminal row of shelves 122. One or more side troughs 121 b may beformed in a portion of a support 121 and/or a portion of a shelf 122.The side troughs 121 b may intersect one or more main troughs 121 a.Generally, the main troughs 121 a and/or side troughs 121 b may serve tochannel nutrient supply and/or water that is positioned on the outersurface of the grow board away from the plant and/or grow media 16 (viagravity). This may prevent and/or mitigate unwanted contact betweenplants and nutrient supply and/or water, which contact may have negativeimpacts on the plants, such as burning of leaves.

As shown, the grow board 10 may comprise twenty eight shelves 122 andtwenty eight corresponding slots 123. However, the optimal shape,number, orientation, arrangement, dimensions, and/or configuration ofsupports 121, main troughs 121 a, side troughs 121 b, shelves 122, slots123, and/or other components of the grow board 10 will vary from oneapplication thereof to the next, and may be at least dependent on thespecies of plant used with the grow board 10. Accordingly, the shape,number, orientation, arrangement, dimensions, and/or configuration ofthose components alone or relative to one another in no way limits thescope of the present disclosure unless so indicated in the followingclaims.

Referring now to FIGS. 15A-15H, which provide various views of two growboards 10 positioned adjacent one another, the grow board 10 may beconfigured with a right side 140 and a corresponding left side 150. Theright side 140 and left side 150 may be configured to cooperate with oneanother in such a manner as to mitigate and/or prevent water and/ornutrient supply passing from the inner surface of the grow board 10 tothe outer surface thereof (from the bottom to the top of the drawing inthe orientation shown in FIG. 15A) along the side edges of the growboard 10.

The right side 140 may comprise a right flange 142 extending laterallyfrom the grow board 10. The right flange 142 may be formed with a ridge142 a thereon extending in a direction that may be generallyperpendicular to that which the right flange 142 extends from the growboard 10. The left side 150 may comprise a left flange 152 extendinglaterally from the grow board 10. The left flange 152 may be formed witha lip 152 a thereon extending in a direction that may be generallyperpendicular to that which the left flange 152 extends from the growboard 10. Referring specifically to FIG. 15H, the lip 152 a and ridge142 a may be generally parallel with respect to one another, but extendfrom their respective flanges 142, 152 in opposite directions such thatthe right and left flanges 142, 152 cooperate to interlock with oneanother in a type of tongue-and-groove arrangement.

In one aspect of a grow board 10, the outer member 120 may be comprisedof a synthetic material that reflects a large portion of light toincrease the efficiency of light absorbed by plants grown using the growboard 10 (such as white colored, food-grade ABS plastic). However, thescope of the present disclosure is in no way limited by the materialsused to construct any portion of the grow board 10, including but notlimited to the outer member 120 and inner member 130, unless soindicated in the following claims.

The configuration of the outer surface of the grow board 10 shown inFIGS. 14A-15H may afford this grow board 10 identical and/or similaradvantages related to germination, early plant grow, a controlledenvironment on a portion of the plant, harvesting, shipping, generaltransportation, retail display and/or general display, and/or otherbenefits and/or advantages previously described for other embodiments ofa grow board 10 without limitation unless so indicated in the followingclaims.

It is contemplated that for certain plants, the type of grow board 10shown in FIGS. 14A-15H may be especially advantageous due to theorientation of the slots 123, which may allow a plant to grow in a morevertical direction when compared with other grow boards 10.Additionally, it is contemplated that this type of grow board 10 mayease removal of residual plant material, grow media 16, and/or othermaterial after harvest in preparation of reusing the grow board 10. Inan aspect, a pressurized fluid may be applied to the grow board 10 in adirection from the outer surface to the inward surface with such flowcharacteristics that residual plant material, grow media 16, and/orother material positioned on the outer surface, inner surface, and/orother position of the grow board 10 may be expelled from the grow board10. However, the specific orientation of the plants and/or method forcleaning a grow board 10 in no way limit the scope of the presentdisclosure unless so indicated in the following claims.

It will be apparent from the present disclosure that the grow boards 10shown in FIGS. 9A-12B may have an interior area 18 that is configureddifferently than the interior area 18 of the grow boards 10 shown inFIGS. 1-8D, the grow boards 10 shown in FIGS. 13A-13C have still anotherdifferently configured interior area 18, and the grow boards 10 shown inFIGS. 14A-15H have yet another differently configured interior area 18,but the periphery 18 of any grow board 19 may be similar enough suchthat any of the grow boards 10 may be engaged with a specific rail 12and/or other support structure. In an aspect of the grow board 10, growboards 10 having interior areas 19 that are differently configured mayhave the peripheries 18 that are identical, similar, substantiallysimilar, and/or correlative, without limitation unless so indicated inthe following claims.

It will be apparent that some grow boards 10 may be comprised of asingle piece of material, rather than an outer member 20 engaged with aninner member 30, an outer member 120 engaged with a backing member 128,and/or an outer member 120 engaged with an inner member 130. In suchgrow boards 10, the grow board 10 itself may be considered the outermember 20, 120. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is notlimited to grow boards 10 having only an outer member 20, 120 and/orthose having an outer member 20, 120, backing member 128, and/or outermember 30, 130 unless so indicated in the following claims.

Other aspects of the grow board 10 may include, but are not limited to:

-   -   1. A grow board for hydroponic and aeroponic cultivation,        comprising of a plurality of chutes and/or chambers with open        slots upper and lower angled (i,e. 70 degrees) solid rectangle        panels of similar dimensions.    -   2. A living hinge comb on the back side.    -   3. The comb back board is partially in a solid state extending        the entire horizontal length of the opening prior to converting        to the prongs of the comb extending down to the lower chute        panel (and/or outer member). This to provide a more rigid        support to the grow media.    -   4. The comb back will open forward towards the front of board.    -   5. The strip below have an overlap with the teeth to prevent the        plants and grow media from sliding out the back side.    -   6. Where vertically stacked nozzles apply a nutrient mist to the        back side of the grow board. The outside edging of each board is        molded to create a watertight seal as a plurality of grow boards        are placed adjacent to the next.    -   7. The chambers are filled with a grow media such as perlite,        hydroton pellets or other loose fill such as fiber strands (i.e.        rock wool or coconut fiber).    -   8. Where the living hinge is strong enough to hold grow media        and plants in place during the growing phase, but, then has        flexibility to be pushed open during the sanitation process.    -   9. Where the opening of chute panels (and/or outer member) is        angled to allow the mouth to easily be filled with loose fill        grow media from the front side.    -   10. A grow board where the outside frame can be made from        plastic or non-corrosive metals such as stainless steel or        aluminum.    -   11. Where the living hinge comb back board is made by stamping a        polyethylene sheet of sufficient mm thickness (e.g., 20 to        60 mm) to accomplish the goals of being both flexible and        maintain shape memory attributes.    -   12. Where the roots tangle into the rocks and teeth of the comb        to provide solid support to the plant as it grows.    -   13. Where the top and bottom of the board and contain wheels or        self-lubricating plastics to allow low friction loading and        unloading of the trays into customized plant stand.    -   14. Where the grow board depth allows the grow board to be        stacked for germination horizontally or placed into a frame for        rack for vertical germination    -   15. Where the back comb board may be flat or indented to improve        the root zone free fall    -   16. Where chutes and/or chambers will periodically have a        connecting support running the vertical height of the board in        the center.

The materials used to construct the grow board 10 and various elementsthereof will vary depending on the specific application thereof, but itis contemplated that polymers, metals, metal alloys, natural materials,fibrous materials, and/or combinations thereof may be especially usefulfor the grow board 10 in some applications. Accordingly, theabove-referenced elements may be constructed of any material known tothose skilled in the art or later developed, which material isappropriate for the specific application of the present disclosurewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosureunless so indicated in the following claims.

Having described the preferred embodiments, other features of thepresent disclosure will undoubtedly occur to those versed in the art, aswill numerous modifications and alterations in the embodiments asillustrated herein, all of which may be achieved without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the methodsand embodiments pictured and described herein are for illustrativepurposes only.

Any of the various features for the grow board 10, inner member 20, 120,outer member 30, 130, and/or components thereof may be used alone or incombination with one another (depending on the compatibility of thefeatures) from one embodiment to the next. Accordingly, an infinitenumber of variations of the grow board 10 exists. All of these differentcombinations constitute various alternative aspects of the grow board10. The embodiments described herein explain the best modes known forpracticing the grow board 10 and will enable others skilled in the artto utilize the same. The claims are to be construed to includealternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art.Modifications and/or substitutions of one feature for another in no waylimit the scope of the grow board 10 and/or component thereof unless soindicated in the following claims.

It should be noted that the present disclosure is not limited to thespecific embodiments pictured and described herein, but are intended toapply to all similar apparatuses and methods for germinating and/orgrowing seeds and/or plants, harvesting same, transporting and/orproviding at least one plant to a point-of-sale location at which acustomer and/or end consumer may receive the plant, and whichapparatuses and/or methods may reduce the costs for providing freshplants and/or increase the amount of time plants remain fresh, and/ormethods for any of the proceeding. Modifications and alterations fromthe described embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art withoutdeparture from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

1. A method of growing a plant, said method comprising the steps of: a.providing a support structure to engage a grow board, wherein said growboard comprises: i. a periphery around an outside of said grow board,wherein one edge of said periphery is configured to directly engage aportion of said support structure; ii. an interior area within saidperiphery, wherein said interior area is configured based upon a speciesof said plant; b. positioning said grow board on said support structure;c. allowing said plant to reach a stage of maturity such that a portionof said plant is ready for harvest; d. removing said grow board fromsaid support structure; and, e. harvesting said portion of said plant.2. The method of claim 1 further comprising: a. positioning a secondgrow board on said support structure, wherein said second grow boardcomprises: i. a periphery around an outside of said grow board, whereinone edge of said periphery is configured to directly engage a portion ofsaid support structure; ii. an interior area within said periphery,wherein said interior area is configured based upon a second species ofa second plant; b. positioning said grow board on said supportstructure; c. allowing said plant to reach a stage of maturity such thata portion of said plant is ready for harvest; d. removing said growboard from said support structure; and, e. harvesting said portion ofsaid plant.
 3. The method according to claim 2 wherein said grow boardfurther comprises: a. a plurality of shelves are positioned within saidinterior area, wherein said plurality of shelves are arranged incorresponding rows and columns, and wherein each shelf in said pluralityis formed with a slot; and, b. a plurality of supports engaged with saidplurality of shelves in said interior area.
 4. The method according toclaim 3 wherein said second grow board further comprises: a. an outermember comprising: i. an outer surface; ii. an inner surface, wherein aslot is formed in said outer member and extends from said outer surfaceto said inner surface; iii. a peripheral wall around a periphery of saidouter member; iv. an indent formed along an edge of said peripheralwall; b. an inner member comprising: i. a frame configured to engage aportion of said inner surface of said outer member; ii. a leg positionedwithin said frame; and, c. a grow media positioned between said outermember and said inner member, wherein said inner member engages saidouter member via an interference fit, and wherein said interference fitsecures a position of said grow media with respect to said outer memberand said inner member.
 5. A grow board comprising: a. an outer membercomprising: i. an outer surface; ii. an inner surface, wherein a slot isformed in said outer member and extends from said outer surface to saidinner surface; iii. a peripheral wall around a periphery of said outermember; iv. an indent formed along an edge of said peripheral wall; b.an inner member comprising: i. a frame configured to engage a portion ofsaid inner surface of said outer member; ii. a leg positioned withinsaid frame; and, c. a grow media positioned between said outer memberand said inner member, wherein said inner member engages said outermember via an interference fit, and wherein said interference fitsecures a position of said grow media with respect to said outer memberand said inner member.
 6. The grow board according to claim 5 furthercomprising a filler positioned within said indent.
 7. The grow boardaccording to claim 6 wherein said inner member further comprises a riserformed on said frame.
 8. A grow board comprising: a. a periphery aroundan outside of said grow board, wherein a portion of said periphery isconfigured to engage a support structure; and, b. an interior areawithin said periphery, wherein a configuration of said interior area isvariable such that said periphery may be utilized to grow a plurality ofdifferent plant species via adjusting said configuration of saidinterior area without changing said portion of said periphery.
 9. Thegrow board according to claim 8 further comprising a shelf positionedwithin said interior area, wherein said shelf is formed with a slot. 10.The grow board according to claim 9 further comprising a support engagedwith said shelf
 11. The grow board according to claim 10 furthercomprising a backing member engaged with an inner surface of said shelf,such that said shelf, said support, and said backing member cooperate toform a chamber configured to retain a grow media.
 12. The grow boardaccording to claim 9 further comprising a plurality of shelves, whereinsaid plurality of shelves are arranged in a plurality of correspondingrows and a plurality of corresponding columns.
 13. The grow boardaccording to claim 12 wherein said grow board is further defined asbeing rectangular in shape, and wherein said grow board comprises aright side and a left side of said periphery.
 14. The grow boardaccording to claim 13 wherein said periphery is further defined asincluding an indent formed on a top edge of said periphery.
 15. The growboard according to claim 14 wherein said right side further comprises aright flange and wherein said left side further comprises a left flange.16. The grow board according to claim 15 wherein said right flangefurther comprises a ridge and said left flange further comprises a lip,wherein said right flange and said left flange are configured to overlapand interlock with one another.
 17. The grow board according to claim 16further comprising a main trough positioned between two adjacent columnsof said plurality of columns and a side trough positioned in saidsupport.
 18. The grow board according to claim 10 further comprising aninner member, wherein said inner member is engaged with an inner surfaceof said shelf, such that said shelf, said support, and said inner membercooperate to form a chamber configured to retain a grow media.
 19. Thegrow board according to claim 18 wherein said inner member furthercomprises a void formed therein.
 20. The grow board according to claim19 wherein said inner member is further defined as being engaged withsaid grow board at a connection point, wherein said connection pointprovides a hinge between a portion of said inner member and said growboard.